Former heavyweight boxing champ Joe Frazier dies - CNN.com Former heavyweight boxing champ Joe Frazier dies By the CNN Wire Staff Updated 4:40 PM ET, Tue November 8, 2011 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. Photos: Joe Frazier: A Life in Pictures Joe Frazier: A Life in Pictures – Joe Frazier and Russian Vadim Yemelyanov fight in a semifinal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964. Frazier went on to win gold. Hide Caption 1 of 8 Photos: Joe Frazier: A Life in Pictures Joe Frazier: A Life in Pictures – Frazier poses in a fighting stance in the ring with his trainer Eddie Futch behind the ropes in 1968. Hide Caption 2 of 8 Photos: Joe Frazier: A Life in Pictures Joe Frazier: A Life in Pictures – Muhammad Ali goes down in the 15th round after a left hook from world heavyweight champion Frazier in 1971, who kept the title with a unanimous points win.

Hide Caption 3 of 8 Photos: Joe Frazier: A Life in Pictures Joe Frazier: A Life in Pictures – Frazier and Joe Bugner compete during a world title eliminator fight at Earl's Court, London, in 1973. Frazier emerged the winner after a very hard-fought match. Hide Caption 4 of 8 Photos: Joe Frazier: A Life in Pictures Joe Frazier: A Life in Pictures – Then South African president Nelson Mandela poses with former heavyweight boxing champions Michael Spinks, left, and Frazier in Pretoria in 1997. Hide Caption 5 of 8 Photos: Joe Frazier: A Life in Pictures Joe Frazier: A Life in Pictures – Frazier and Sugar Ray Leonard meet before Frazier's daughter Jacqui Frazier-Lyde fought Laila Ali during the women's super middleweight fight in 2001 in New York. Hide Caption 6 of 8 Photos: Joe Frazier: A Life in Pictures Joe Frazier: A Life in Pictures – Frazier and boxing promoter Don King attend the roasting of Don King at the Friars Club in 2005 in New York.

Hide Caption 7 of 8 Photos: Joe Frazier: A Life in Pictures Joe Frazier: A Life in Pictures – Frazier poses for a portrait at his boxing gym in 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Hide Caption Mayor calls him the "quintessential" Philly boxer Frazier was "swarming and unrelenting," columnist says Frazier was diagnosed with liver cancer only recently Muhammad Ali says "the world has lost a great champion" Joe Frazier, the hard-hitting boxing heavyweight who handed the legendary Muhammad Ali his first defeat, died Monday, just a month after being diagnosed with liver cancer, his family said in a statement. The former heavyweight champion, who was 67, became a legend in his own right and personified the gritty working-class style of his hard-knuckled hometown, Philadelphia -- a fitting setting for the "Rocky" film series, starring Sylvester Stallone as hardscrabble boxer Rocky Balboa.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter called Frazier the "quintessential Philadelphia boxer." "You could hear him coming, snorting and grunting and puffing, like a steam engine climbing a steep grade," Bill Lyon wrote in a Philadelphia Inquirer column about Frazier, nicknamed Smokin' Joe. "He was swarming and unrelenting, and he prided himself that he never took a backward step, and he reduced the Sweet Science to this brutal bit of elemental math: 'I'll let you hit me five times if you'll let me hit you just once.'" Frazier's family issued a brief statement about his death. "We The Family of ... Smokin' Joe Frazier, regret to inform you of his passing," the statement said. "He transitioned from this life as 'One of God's Men,' on the eve of November 7, 2011 at his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania." Muhammad Ali said in a statement that the "world has lost a great champion." JUST WATCHED MUST WATCH 'Iron Mike' reflects on 'Smokin' Joe' 05:24 "I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration. My sympathy goes out to his family and loved ones," Ali's statement said.

Star boxer Floyd "Money" Mayweather offered to pay for Frazier's funeral. "My condolences go out to the family of the late great Joe Frazier," read a post on Mayweather's official Twitter feed. "#TheMoneyTeam will pay for his funeral services." Fans and well-wishers were encouraged to post their thoughts and prayers on a Facebook page at joefrazierscorner.com. "RIP Smokin' Joe Frazier you had heavy hands and a big heart you will be missed," read a Facebook post . Another post said: "One of my childhood heroes has left us ...I'm really sad." The son of a South Carolina sharecropper, Frazier boxed during the glory days of the heavyweight division, going up against greats George Foreman, Oscar Bonavena, Joe Bugner and Jimmy Ellis. He made his name by winning a gold medal for the United States at the 1964 Summer Games in Tokyo. U.S.

Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun said Frazier was "one of the greatest boxers of all time" and "was an Olympic champion and an American icon." Frazier used his devastating left hook with impunity during his professional career, retiring in 1976 with a 32-4-1 record and staging one last comeback fight in 1981. HBO analyst and famed trainer Emanuel Steward, who knew Frazier from amateur boxing, told boxer Buster Mathis not to fight Frazier as a pro. "And in 1968, they did, and Joe Frazier's determination and strength and pressure -- and that wicked left hook -- he broke Buster down and knocked him out," Steward said. "He was one of the most vicious machines I ever saw in my life. But it was his three much-hyped fights against Ali that helped seal his legend. Frazier bested Ali at 1971's "Fight of the Century" at Madison Square Garden. In the 15th round, Frazier landed perhaps the most famous left hook in history, catching Ali on the jaw and dropping the former champ for a four-count, according to Frazier's bio at the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Frazier left the ring as the undisputed champ and handed Ali his first professional loss. "Ali was talking to him and Joe never did bow down. Ali would make a comment and Joe would talk right back. He always had that determination," Steward said. Ali won a 12-round decision in a January 1974 rematch, setting the stage for the classic "Thrilla in Manila" just outside the Philippine capital in 1975. Ali took the early rounds, but Frazier rebounded before losing the last five rounds. By the end of the 14th, Frazier's eyes were nearly swollen shut, and his corner stopped the bout, according to the biography. Later, Ali said, "It was the closest I've come to death." Philadelphia Daily News columnist Stan Hochman noted that Frazier "summoned the skill and courage to battle Ali into the 14th round in Manila." "He was a fighter, pure and simple, with a style that seemed destined for a short career. Trudge forward, lean on the other guy, take two to land one," Hochman wrote. "'You've gotta breathe on him,'" Frazier would say, in a rare attempt to define his style.

'No shortcuts' was his mantra. There's a lesson there for all of us," Hochman's column said Tuesday. Boxer Mike Tyson sent Twitter messages saying the era of Frazier and Ali represented an age of "competitive fighting at the highest level." "Each man would not give an inch until they were dead," he said, adding that "it has always been an honor to be compared" to Frazier. Frazier, a two-time heavyweight champion for nearly three years until he lost in January 1973 to George Foreman, ran a well-known boxing gym in Philadelphia for years. "I don't mind working with the kids," Frazier told CNN's Don Lemon in 2009. "The kids is tomorrow. And if we don't do what we're supposed to do for them now, how are you going (to) expect them to carry on?" Asked whether he was similar to Rocky Balboa, Frazier replied, "Sure. I worked at the slaughterhouse. I'm the guy that ran in the streets of Philadelphia." Nutter said Frazier "represented the heart and soul of boxing in our great city." "In the ring and in the neighborhoods, he carried himself with dignity and courage.

He was a true ambassador for our city. I enjoyed him as a fighter, and I really liked him as a person," the mayor said. "The entire city mourns his passing, and we keep him and his family in our prayers." The Death of a Boxer | The Definitive Funeral Planning and Information Resource Home | Sendoffs | Celebrity Deaths | The Death of a Boxer The Death of a Boxer by M-Gillies Joe Frazier (center) was presented with the Daily News Front Page Award by The New York Daily News earlier this year. “The world has lost a great champion. I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration.” – Cassius “Muhammad Ali” Clay, Jr. Madison Square Garden was busting with a pandemonium of activity. Police patrolled the area and controlled the circus-like frenzy of the crowd, some who were dressed outrageously. It was 1971 and it was the place to be. Countless celebrities from Norman Mailer, Woody Allen, Peter Falk and Frank Sinatra were in attendance. But the crowds didn’t flock for them. Around the world interest swelled for what was known as the “Fight of the Century.” Crowds swarmed closed-circuit locations across the country.

In New York, 6,000 fans arrived at the Radio City Music Hall to watch the fight in color, 5,500 found their haven at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. The streets of Buenos Aires were deserted, Londoners refused to sleep waiting until 4:40 am for the fight to be broadcast. On TVs in hotels, bars and nightclubs, French, Swiss, Germans and Austrians eagerly watched in heightened anticipation while schools in Manila were suspended for the duration of the fight In the end, it was estimated that 300 million people had tuned in to watch the two undefeated Heavyweight Champions, Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali dual for the legitimate title as the Heavyweight Championship of the World. It started in 1967 to 1970. Frazier had gone through the top heavyweights in the world. He prevailed against Buster Mathis and dominated Jimmy Ellis after five rounds. He had captured a piece of the heavyweight championship for the first time and cultivated a universal recognition as a World Heavyweight Champion, but fans wouldn’t see it that way, and Frazier knew it.

Until he had the name Muhammed Ali under his win column, Frazier knew he would never be accepted as the real champ. It had been forty-seven months prior to the fight with the man known as “Smokin” Joe Frazier, that Ali had been stripped of his undisputed title and exiled from the world of professional boxing for his refusal of induction into the United States Army. The man recognized for his swift movements and his stinging punches had just made his ninth successful title defense against Zora Folley on March 22, 1967, giving him a boxing record of 29-0 at the age of 25. On December 30, 1970 Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali signed on to face each other for the undisputed Heavyweight Championship of the World. In the build up to the fight, a vicious feud was formed between the two men as Ali taunted Frazier with controversial remarks. Whether Ali had been joking or marketing a feud to further publicize the event, Frazier never found it funny. The words, the taunts, the remarks remained a blemish that marred Frazier’s outlook toward Ali and further fuelled his desire to come out victorious.

On the much anticipated night of March 8, 1971, the fight proved to exceed even the promotional hype. What started as a close fight for the two men ended with a final victory for Frazier, landing a crushing defeat for Ali, who would not win another world title for the next three years. While the match showed Frazier’s greatest athletic performance ever seen under the ceiling of Madison Square Garden, both men had to recuperate in the hospital, leading to a rumor that Frazier had died. When the tale circulated to Ali, he vowed to retire from boxing if the rumors proved to be true. From that day on, the two men would meet again in two follow-up matches. Having seen defeat in the Ali-Frazier II match, Frazier once again stepped into the ring with Ali. In what became a terse and heated battle between the two men, which saw both Ali and Frazier bruised, bloodied and swollen, the “Thrilla in Manila” came to an end when despite Frazier’s pleas to continue, Frazier’s trainer Eddie Futch stopped the fight saying “It’s all over.

No one will forget what you did here today.” Unbeknownst to Frazier, Ali had instructed his trainer to cut his gloves off, later saying “Frazier quit just before I did. I didn’t think I could fight anymore.” In spite of the controversial taunting caused by Ali, he stated, “Joe Frazier, I’ll tell the world right now, brings out the best in me. I’m gonna tell ya, that’s one helluva man, and God bless him. He is the greatest fighter of all times, next to me.” Born January 12, 1944, Joseph William “Joe” Frazier rose to the ranks of international stardom as a legend who stepped out of the long shadow cast by Ali. With a record of 32 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw, Frazier held a record of 73% wins. For the next four decades after his historical battle with Ali in 1971, Frazier would continue to train boxers and make media appearances. By 2009, after years of remaining bitter toward Ali, Frazier told “Sports Illustrated” he no longer held hard feelings for his on again, off again nemesis.

In late September 2011, Frazier was diagnosed with liver cancer which metastasized within a few weeks. After going into hospice care in November, Frazier died on November 7th, 2011. Since the announcement of his passing Monday night, Frazier’s death has touched not only the hearts of millions but also that of deep admirer of the sport’s history and unbeaten world welterweight champion, Floyd Mayweather Jr., who late Tuesday wrote on his Twitter, “My condolences go out to the family of the late great Joe Frazier. “TheMoneyTeam will pay for his Funeral services,” a gesture which Mayweather committed to before when he paid for the funeral of one-time opponent, former world champion Genaro Hernandez.

Joe Frazier | Boxing Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia 37 total bouts, 32 wins, 4 losses, 1 draw, 27 KO's, 0 no contests Olympic Medals won: Gold at the 1964 Olympic Games Joseph William "Joe" Frazier (January 12, 1944 – November 7, 2011), also known as Smokin' Joe, was an American professional boxer , Olympic gold medalist and Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion , whose professional career lasted from 1965 to 1976, with a one-fight comeback in 1981. Frazier emerged as the top contender in the late 1960s, defeating opponents that included Jerry Quarry , Oscar Bonavena , Buster Mathis , Eddie Machen , Doug Jones , George Chuvalo and Jimmy Ellis en route to becoming Undisputed Heavyweight Champion in 1970, and followed up by defeating Muhammad Ali on points in the highly-anticipated " Fight of the Century " in 1971. Two years later Frazier lost his title when he was knocked out by George Foreman .

He fought on, beating Joe Bugner , losing a rematch to Ali and beating Quarry and Ellis again. Frazier's last world title challenge came in 1975, but he was beaten by Ali in their brutal rubbermatch . He retired in 1976 following a second loss to Foreman. He made a comeback in 1981, fighting just once, before retiring. The International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO) rates Frazier among the ten greatest heavyweights of all time. [2] He is an inductee of both the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame . Frazier's style was often compared to that of Henry Armstrong and occasionally Rocky Marciano , dependent on bobbing, weaving and relentless pressure to wear down his opponents. His best known punch was a powerful left hook , which accounted for most of his knockouts. After retiring, Frazier made cameo appearances in several Hollywood movies, and two episodes of The Simpsons . His son Marvis became a boxer — trained by Frazier himself — although was unable to recreate his father's success. Frazier continued to train fighters in his gym in Philadelphia.

His later years saw the continuation of his bitter rivalry with Ali, in which the two periodically exchanged insults, interspersed with brief reconciliations. Frazier was diagnosed with liver cancer in late September 2011 and admitted to hospice care. [3] He died November 7, 2011. [4] Contents Edit Joe Frazier was the 12th child born to Rubin and Dolly Frazier in Beaufort, South Carolina. He was raised in a rural community there called Laurel Bay. [5] [6] Frazier said he was always close to his father, who carried him when he was a toddler "over the 10 acres of farmland" that the Fraziers owned, "to the still where he made his bootleg corn liquor, and into town on Saturdays to buy the necessities that a family of 10 needed." The young Frazier was affectionately called "Billy Boy." [7] Rubin had his left hand and part of his forearm amputated a year before Frazier was born.

While Rubin and Dolly were in the car a friend named Arthur Smith, who was drunk at the time and was fond of meeting women, passed by and made a move for Dolly and was rebuffed. When Frazier's parents drove away Smith fired several bullets, hitting Dolly once in the foot and Rubin several times in the arm, which was hanging outside the car. Arthur Smith went to prison for the shooting, but did not stay long. As Joe's mother put it, "If you were a good workman, the white man took you out of jail and kept you busy on the farm." [8] His parents owned the 10 acre farm which they worked with "two mules, Buck and Jenny." Frazier said the land was what country folk called "white dirt, which is another way of saying it isn't worth a damn." The Frazier family couldn't grow peas or corn on it, they were only able to grow cotton and watermelon. [9] In the early '50s, Frazier's father got a black and white television. His father, his mother, her brothers and other people from the neighborhood would come to watch boxing matches on it.

Frazier's mother sold drinks for a quarter as they watched fighters like Sugar Ray Robinson , Rocky Marciano , Willie Pep and Rocky Graziano . One night Frazier walked onto the porch of his house when his Uncle Israel noticed Frazier's stocky build. "That boy there...that boy is gonna be another Joe Louis " he remarked. The words made an impression on Joe. At school, his classmates would give him a sandwich or a quarter to walk with them at final bell so that bullies would not mess with them. Joe remarked, "Any 'scamboogah' (a disrespectful, low-down and foul person) who got in my face would soon regret it: Billy Boy could kick anybody's ass." The next day after Joe was labeled the next Joe Louis, he got an old burlap sack and filled it with rags, corncobs, a brick in the middle and Spanish moss that grew on trees all over Beaufort County. He then tied a rope to it and hung the makeshift heavybag from an oak tree in the backyard where the mules were kept. "For the next 6, 7 years, damn near every day I'd hit that heavybag for an hour at a time.

I'd wrap my hands with a necktie of my Daddy's, or a stocking of my Momma's or sister's, and get to it" Joe remarked. [10] It was not long after Joe started working out that his left arm was seriously damaged because of the Fraziers' ornery 300 pound hog. The hog was very nasty from time to time, but sometimes Joe could not resist teasing it. One day Joe poked the hog with a stick and ran away, but someone had left the gate to the pigpen open and the hog ran through the gate, chasing Joe. In his hurry, Joe fell and hit his left arm on a brick. The arm was torn badly, but as the Frazier family was unable to pay for a doctor, the arm had to heal on its own. The arm eventually did heal, but Joe was never able to keep it fully straight again. It was crooked and lacking a full range of motion. But as it existed, it was as though it was cocked for the left hook — permanently cocked. [11] By the time Joe was 15 years old, he was working on a farm for a family named Bellamy.

They were both white men, Mac who was the younger of the two and more easy going, and Jim who was a little rougher and somewhat backward. One day a little black boy of about 12 years old, damaged one of the Bellamy's tractors without meaning to. Jim Bellamy became so enraged he took off his belt and whipped the boy with his belt right there in the field. Joe saw the event and went back to the packing house on the farm and told his black friends what he had seen. It wasn't long before Jim Bellamy saw Joe and asked him why he told what he had witnessed. Joe then told Bellamy he didn't know what he was talking about, but Bellamy didn't believe Joe and threatened Joe to get off the farm before he took off his belt again. Joe told him he better keep his pants up because he wasn't going to use his belt on him. Jim then analyzed Joe for a bit and eventually said "Go on, get the hell outta here." Joe knew from that moment it was time for him to leave Beaufort; he could only see hard times and low-rent for himself. Even his Momma could see it.

She told Joe "Son, if you can't get along with the white folks, then leave home because I don't want anything to happen to you." [12] The train fare from Beaufort to the cities up North was costly, and the closest bus-stop was in Charleston, 96 miles (Bad rounding hereScript error km) away. Luckily by 1958, the bus ( The Dog , as called by locals in Beaufort) had finally made Beaufort a stop on its South Carolina route. Joe had a brother, Tommy, in New York. He was told he could stay with Tommy and his family. Joe had to save up a bit before he could make the bus trip to New York and still have some money in his pocket, and so first he went to work at the local Coca-Cola plant. Joe remarked that the white guy would drive the truck and he would do the real work, stacking and unloading the crates. Joe stayed with Coca-Cola until the government began building houses for the marines stationed at Parris Island ; at which time he was hired on a work crew. Nine months eventually passed since he got the boot from the Bellamy farm.

One day, with no fanfare, no tearful goodbyes, Joe packed quickly and got the first bus heading northward. "I climbed on the Dog's back and rode through the night" Joe remarked. "It was 1959, I was 15 years old and I was on my own." [13] Amateur career Edit During Frazier's amateur career, he won Golden Gloves Heavyweight Championships in 1962, 1963 and 1964. His only loss in three years as an amateur was to Buster Mathis . [14] Mathis would prove to be Joe's biggest obstacle to making the 1964 U.S. Olympic Boxing team. They met in the final of the U.S. Olympic Trial at the New York World's Fair in the summer of 1964. Their fight was scheduled for three rounds and they fought with 10 oz gloves and with headgear, even though the boxers who made it to Tokyo would wear no headgear and would wear 8 oz gloves. Joe was eager to get back at Mathis for his only amateur loss and KO'd two opponents to get to the finals.

But once again, when the dust settled, the judges had called it for Mathis, undeservedly Joe thought. "All that fat boy had done was run like a thief- hit me with a peck and backpedal like crazy." Joe would remark. [15] Mathis had worn his trunks very high, so that when Joe hit Mathis with legitimate body shots the referee took a dim view of them. In the second round, the referee had gone so far as to penalize Joe two points for hitting below the belt. "In a three-round bout a man can't afford a points deduction like that," Joe would say. Joe then returned to Philadelphia feeling as low as he'd ever been and was even thinking of giving up boxing. Duke Dugent and his trainer Yank Durham were able to talk Joe out of his doldrums and even suggested Joe make the trip to Tokyo as an alternate, in case something happened to Mathis. Joe agreed and while there, he was a workhorse, sparring with any of the Olympic boxers who wanted some action. " Middleweight , light heavyweight , it didn't matter to me, I got in there and boxed all comers" Joe would say.

In contrast, Mathis was slacking off. In the morning, when the Olympic team would do their roadwork, Mathis would run a mile, then start walking saying "Go ahead, big Joe. I'll catch up." [16] 1964 Olympics Edit In 1964 heavyweight representative Buster Mathis qualified but was injured so Frazier was sent as a replacement. At the Heavyweight boxing event , Frazier knocked out George Oywello of Uganda in the first round, then knocked out Athol McQueen of Australia 40 seconds into the third round. He was then into the semi-final, as the only American boxer left, facing the 6 foot 4, 230 lb Russian Vadim Yemelyanov . [17] "My left hook was a heat seeking missile, careening off his face and body time and again. Twice in the second round I knocked him to the canvas. But as I pounded away, I felt a jolt of pain shoot through my left arm. Oh damn, the thumb." Joe would say. Joe knew immediately the thumb of his left hand was damaged, though he wasn't sure as to the extent.

"In the midst of the fight, with your adrenaline pumping, it's hard to gauge such things. My mind was on more important matters. Like how I was going to deal with Yemelyanov for the rest of the fight." The match ended when The Russian handlers threw in the towel, at 1:49 in the second round, the referee raised Joe's injured hand in victory. Now that Joe was into the final, he didn't mention his broken thumb to anyone. He went back to his room and soaked his thumb in hot water and Epsom salts. "Pain or not, Joe Frazier of Beaufort, South Carolina, was going for gold." Joe proclaimed. Joe would fight a 30-year-old German mechanic named Hans Huber , who failed to make it on the German Olympic wrestling team. By now Joe was used to fighting bigger guys, but he was not used to doing it with a damaged left hand. When the opening bell sounded on fight night, Joe came out and started winging punches, he threw his right hand more than usual that night. Every so often he'd used his left hook, but nothing landed with the kind of impact he managed in previous bouts.

Under Olympic rules, 5 judges judge a bout, and that night three voted for Joe. [18] Professional career Edit After Frazier won the USA's only 1964 Olympic boxing gold medal, his trainer Yancey "Yank" Durham helped put together Cloverlay, a group of local businessmen (including a young Larry Merchant ) who invested in Frazier's professional career and allowed him to train full-time. Durham was Frazier's chief trainer and manager until Durham's death in August 1973. Frazier turned professional in 1965, defeating Woody Goss by a technical knockout in the first round. He won three more fights that year, all by knockout, none going past the third round. Joe's second contest was of interest in that he was decked in round 1 by Mike Bruce. Frazier took an "8" count by referee Bob Polis but rallied for a TKO over Bruce in round 3. [19] In 1966, as Frazier's career was taking off, Durham contacted Los Angeles trainer Eddie Futch .

The two men had never met, but Durham had heard of Futch through the latter's reputation as one of the most respected trainers in boxing. Frazier was sent to Los Angeles to train, before Futch agreed to join Durham as an assistant trainer. With Futch's assistance, Durham arranged three fights in Los Angeles against Al Jones , veteran contender Eddie Machen and George "Scrapiron" Johnson . Frazier knocked out Jones and Machen, but surprisingly went 10 rounds with journeyman Johnson to win a unanimous decision. Johnson had apparently bet all his purse that he'd survive to the final bell, noted Ring magazine , and somehow he achieved it. But Johnson was known in the trade as 'impossibly durable.' After the Johnson match, Futch became a full-fledged member of the Frazier camp as an assistant trainer and strategist, who advised Durham on matchmaking. It was Futch who suggested that Frazier boycott the 1967 WBA Heavyweight Elimination Tournament to find a successor to Muhammad Ali after the Heavyweight Champion was stripped of his title for refusing to be inducted into the military, although Frazier was the top-ranked contender at the time.

Futch proved invaluable to Frazier as an assistant trainer, helping modify his style. Under his tutelage, Frazier adopted the bob-and-weave defensive style, making him more difficult for taller opponents to punch, while giving Frazier more power with his own punches. While Futch remained based in Los Angeles, where he worked as a supervisor with the U.S. Postal Service, he was flown to Philadelphia to work with Frazier during the final preparations for all of his fights. After Durham died of a stroke on August 30, 1973, Futch was asked to succeed him as Frazier's head trainer and manager—at the same time he was training heavyweight contender Ken Norton . Norton lost a rematch against Ali less than two weeks after Durham's death. At that point, Norton's managers, Robert Biron and Aaron Rivkind, demanded that Futch choose between training Frazier and Norton, with Futch choosing Frazier. Mid to late 1960s Edit Now in his second year, in September 1966 and somewhat green, Frazier won a close decision over rugged contender Oscar Bonavena , despite Bonavena flooring him twice in the second round.

A third knockdown in that round would have ended the fight under the three knockdown rule. Frazier rallied and won a decision after 12 rounds. The Machen win followed this contest. In 1967 Frazier stormed ahead winning all six of his fights, including a sixth-round knockout of Doug Jones and a brutal fourth round (TKO) of Canadian George Chuvalo . No boxer had ever stopped Chuvalo before, but Frazier, despite the stoppage, was unable to floor Chuvalo, who would never be dropped in his career. By February 1967 Joe had scored 14 wins and his star was beginning to rise. This culminated with his first appearance on the cover of Ring Magazine. In this month he met Ali, who hadn't yet been stripped of his title. Ali said Joe would never stand a chance of "whipping" him, not even in his wildest dreams. Later that year, Muhammad Ali was stripped of his world heavyweight title due to his refusal to be inducted into the military during the Vietnam War .

To fill the vacancy, the New York State Athletic Commission held a bout between Frazier and Buster Mathis, with the winner to be recognized as "World Champion" by the state of New York. Although the fight was not recognized as a World Championship bout by some, Frazier won by a knockout in the 11th round and staked a claim to the Heavyweight Championship. He then defended his claim by beating hard hitting prospect Manuel Ramos of Mexico in two rounds. He closed 1968 by again beating Oscar Bonavena via a 15-round decision in a hard-fought rematch. Bonavena fought somewhat defensively, allowing himself to be often bulled to the ropes, which let Frazier build a wide points margin. Ring magazine showed Bonavena afterwards with a gruesomely bruised face. It had been a punishing match. 1969 saw Frazier defend his NYSAC title in Texas, beating Dave Zyglewicz , who'd only lost once in 29 fights, by a first-round knockout. Then he beat Jerry Quarry in a 7th round stoppage. The competitive, exciting match with Quarry was named 1969 Ring Magazine fight of the year.

Frazier showed he could do a lot more than just slug. He'd used his newly honed defensive skills to slip, bob and weave a barrage of Quarry punches despite Quarry's reputation as an excellent counter punching heavyweight. Wins World Championship – Ellis Edit On February 16, 1970, Frazier faced WBA Champion Jimmy Ellis at Madison Square Garden . Ellis had outpointed Jerry Quarry in the final bout of the WBA elimination tournament for Ali's vacated belt. Frazier had himself declined to participate with the WBA tournament to protest their decision to strip Ali. Ellis also held a win over Oscar Bonavena. Beforehand, Ali had announced his retirement and relinquished the Heavyweight title, allowing Ellis and Frazier to fight for the undisputed title. Frazier won by a TKO when Ellis' trainer Angelo Dundee would not let him come out for the 5th round following two 4th round knockdowns (the first knockdowns of Ellis' career). His decisive win over Ellis was a frightening display of power and tenacity.

In his first title defense, Frazier traveled to Detroit to fight World Light Heavyweight Champion Bob Foster , who would go on to set a record for the number of title defenses in the light-heavyweight division. Frazier (26–0) retained his title by twice flooring the hard punching Foster in the second round. The second knock down came on a devastating left hook and Foster could not beat the count. Then came what was hyped as the " Fight Of The Century ," his first fight with Muhammad Ali , who had launched a comeback in 1970 after a three year suspension from boxing. This would be the first meeting of two undefeated heavyweight champions (and last until Mike Tyson faced Michael Spinks in 1988), since Ali (31–0) had not lost his title in the ring, but rather been stripped because of his refusal to be inducted in the Armed Forces, some considered him to be the true champion. This fight was to crown the one, true heavyweight champion.

Fight of the Century Edit On March 8, 1971, at Madison Square Garden, Frazier and Ali met in the first of their three bouts which was widely called the " Fight of the Century " in pre-bout publicity and the press feeding frenzy. [20] With a worldwide television audience and an in-house audience that included luminaries such as Frank Sinatra (as a photographer for Life magazine to get a ringside seat), comedian Woody Allen, singer Diana Ross and actors Dustin Hoffman and Burt Lancaster (who served as "color commentator" with fight announcer Don Dunphy ), the two undefeated heavyweights met in the kind of media-frenzied atmosphere not seen since Joe Louis ' youth. Several factors came together for Frazier in this fight. He was 27 years old and at his lifetime peak boxing-wise, physically and mentally, while Ali, 29, was coming back from a three-year absence but had kept in training, taking on Frazier three months after a bruising battle with Oscar Bonavena , whom Ali had defeated by a TKO in 15.

Joe did his 'homework' training with famed coach Eddie Futch , who had developed a strategy based on Ali's tendency to throw the right-hand uppercut from a straight standing position after dropping the hand in preparation to throw it with force. Futch instructed Frazier to watch Ali's right hand and, at the moment Ali dropped it, to throw a left hook at the spot where they knew Ali's face would be a second later. Frazier's major staggering of Ali in the 11th round and his knock-down of Ali in the 15th were both executed precisely in this way. In a brutally competitive contest, Frazier lost a number of early rounds but took Ali's combinations without backing down. As Ali started to slow in the middle rounds, Frazier came on strong, landing hard shots to the body as well as the powerful left hooks to the head. Consequently, Frazier won a clear, 15-round, unanimous decision. Ali was taken to the hospital immediately after the fight where he was found to have a severely broken jaw that had happened mid-fight.

Frazier spent time in the hospital during the ensuing month, the exertions of the fight having been exacerbated by his existing health problems, such as hypertension and a kidney infection. Some time later he fought a 3-round exhibition against Cleveland Williams . In 1972, Frazier successfully defended the title twice, beating Terry Daniels and Ron Stander , both by knockout, in the fourth and fifth rounds, respectively. It's worth noting Daniels had drawn with Jerry Quarry and Stander had KO'd Earnie Shavers . Loses title to George Foreman Edit Ultimately, Frazier lost his undefeated record of 29–0 and his world championship, at the hands of the unbeaten George Foreman on January 22, 1973, in Kingston, Jamaica . Despite Frazier being the overall favorite, Foreman towered 4" over the shorter, more compact champion and soon dominated the brief bout as Frazier came in too open. Two minutes into the first round, Frazier was knocked down. After being knocked down a sixth time referee Arthur Mercante, Sr. stopped the contest. It was the first two knockdowns that were decisive.

Frazier won his next fight, a 12-round tough decision and floored Joe Bugner in London to begin his quest to regain the title. Many felt it was Bugner's best career effort. Mid 1970s Edit Frazier's second fight against Ali took place on January 28, 1974, in New York City. In contrast to their previous meeting, the bout was a non-title fight, with Ali winning a disputed 12-round unanimous decision. The fight was somewhat disappointing, with a lot of action being blunted by continuous clinching. Five months later, Frazier again battled Jerry Quarry in Madison Square Garden, with a wicked left hook to the ribs by Frazier ending the fight in the fifth round. In March 1975, Frazier again fought Jimmy Ellis, the man from whom he had originally taken the WBA title, in Melbourne, Australia, knocking him out again in nine rounds. The win again established him as the number one heavyweight challenger for the title that was now held by Ali, following an eighth-round knockout of George Foreman in the famous " Rumble in the Jungle " in October 1974.

Thrilla In Manila Edit Ali and Frazier met for the third and final time in Quezon City (a district within the metropolitan area of Manila ), the Philippines , on October 1, 1975: the " Thrilla in Manila ." Ali took every opportunity to mock Frazier, again calling him a "Gorilla," and generally trying to irritate him, as he had with all his other opponents, only Frazier took it personally. The fight was far more action-filled than the previous encounter, and was a punishing display on both sides under oppressively hot conditions. During the course of the fight, Ali said to Frazier, "They said you were through, Joe." Frazier's terse reply quickly followed: "They lied, pretty boy." After 14 grueling rounds, Eddie Futch stopped the fight after Frazier was determined to finish the fight despite both eyes being swollen shut and heavy bruising on his face. Ali won the battle, but said afterward that it was "Closest thing to dying that I know of." [21] Foreman again Edit In 1976, Frazier (32–3) personally wished to retry against George Foreman.

With a shaved head for a new image Frazier fought well enough, somewhat more restrained than usual, avoiding walking onto the big shots which he had done in their first match. However, Foreman awaited his moment and then lobbed in one tremendous left hook that lifted Frazier off his feet. After a second knock down it was stopped in the fifth. Joe retired. Frazier made a cameo appearance in the movie Rocky later in 1976 and dedicated himself to training local boxers in Philadelphia , where he grew up, including some of his own children. He helped train Duane Bobick a while. Music career Edit During the late 1970s, Frazier created a soul-funk group called "Joe Frazier and the Knockouts," being mentioned in Billboard and recording a number of singles. Joe toured widely all over the USA and Europe including Ireland where among other places he performed in Donegal and Athy Co Kildare with his band the Knockouts 1980s comeback and coaching career Edit In 1981, Frazier attempted a comeback. He drew over 10 rounds with hulking Floyd "Jumbo" Cummings in Chicago, Illinois . It was a bruising battle with mixed reviews.

He then retired for good. After that, Frazier involved himself in various endeavors. Among his sons who turned to boxing as a career, he helped train Marvis Frazier , a challenger for Larry Holmes 's world heavyweight title and trained his daughter, Jackie Frazier-Lyde , whose most notable fight to date was a close points loss against Laila Ali , the daughter of his rival. Frazier's overall record was 32 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw, with 27 wins by knockout. He won 73 percent of his fights by knockout, compared to 60 percent for Ali and 84 percent for Foreman. He was a member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame . In 1986, Frazier appeared as the "corner man" for Mr. T against Roddy Piper at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum as part of WrestleMania 2 . In 1989, Frazier joined Ali, Foreman, Norton and Holmes for the tribute special Champions Forever . Media appearances Edit Frazier appeared as himself in an episode of The Simpsons (" Brother, Can You Spare Two Dimes?

") in 1992, in which he was supposed to have been beaten up by Barney Gumble in Moe's Tavern . Frazier's son objected and Frazier was instead shown beating up Gumble and putting him in a trash can. Frazier appeared in another episode of The Simpsons (" Homer's Paternity Coot ") in 2006. He appeared on-screen in the 8th series of The Celebrity Apprentice (USA) television show as a guest-attendee at the Silent Auction event held for the season finale (won by Joan Rivers). Frazier appeared as himself in the Academy Award winning 1976 movie, Rocky. Since the debut of the Fight Night series of games, Frazier appeared in Fight Night 2004 , Fight Night Round 2 , Fight Night Round 3 , Fight Night Round 4 and Fight Night Champion , games made by EA Sports . Autobiography File:Smokinjoeauto.jpg Frazier released his autobiography in March 1996, entitled Smokin' Joe: The Autobiography of a Heavyweight Champion of the World, Smokin' Joe Frazier.

Frazier promoted the book shortly before its release with a memorable appearance on The Howard Stern Show on January 26, 1996. [22] Financial issues and legal battles Edit According to an article from The New York Times , "over the years, Frazier has lost a fortune through a combination of his own generosity and naïveté , his carousing, failed business opportunities, and a deep hatred for his former chief boxing rival, Muhammad Ali. The other headliners from his fighting days — Ali, George Foreman, and Larry Holmes — are millionaires." Asked about his situation, Frazier became playfully defensive, but would not reveal his financial status. "Are you asking me how much money I have?" he said. "I got plenty of money. I got a stack of $100 bills rolled up over there in the back of the room." Frazier blamed himself, partly, for not effectively promoting his own image. His daughter Jackie Frazier-Lyde is a lawyer and worked on her father’s behalf in pursuit of money which they claimed he was owed in a Pennsylvania land deal.

In 1973, Frazier purchased 140 acres in Bucks County, Pennsylvania for $843,000. Five years later, a developer agreed to buy the farmland for $1.8 million. Frazier received annual payments from a trust that bought the land with money he had earned in the ring. When the trust went bankrupt, the payments ceased. Frazier sued his business partners, claiming that his signature was forged on documents and that he had no knowledge of the sale. In the ensuing years, the land was subdivided and turned into a residential community. The property is now worth an estimated $100 million. [23] Relationship with Muhammad Ali Edit While Ali's characteristic taunts of his opponent began typically enough, after regaining his title, his taunts eventually turned personal. Joe was painted by Ali as the white man's hope and as an "Uncle Tom," interjecting a racial element into an already contentious and controversial series of great bouts.

Bryant Gumbel joined the pro-Ali, anti-Frazier bandwagon by writing a major magazine article that asked "Is Joe Frazier a white champion with black skin?", and many younger boxing fans who had no issues with Frazier sided with Ali in their feud because of their admiration for Ali's anti-war and anti-racism views (Frazier rarely spoke publicly about social or political issues). Frazier petitioned U.S. President Richard Nixon to have Ali's right to box reinstated, setting up the whole series of matches. (Frazier had boycotted the 1967 WBA heavyweight elimination tournament to find a successor to Muhammad Ali, after the champion had been stripped of the title.) After years of remaining bitter, Frazier told Sports Illustrated in May 2009 that he no longer held hard feelings for Ali.<rer> (Joe) Frazier gets his time to shine, May 27, 2009, by Christopher Wink for SportsIllustrated.com, accessed April 22, 2009. </ref> Ali was among those who attended the private funeral services for Frazier in Philadelphia on November 14, 2011. The Rev.

Jesse Jackson gave remarks during the service and at one point asked those in attendance to stand and "show your love." It was reported that Ali stood with the audience and clapped "vigorously." [24] [[File:Joe Frazier awarded the Order of the Palmetto.jpg|thumb|Frazier was awarded the Order of the Palmetto in Beaufort in 2010. [25] Later years Edit Frazier lived in Philadelphia where he owned and managed a boxing gym. Frazier put the gym up for sale in mid 2009. He was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure. He and his nemesis, Muhammad Ali, alternated over the years between public apologies and public insults. [26] In 1996, when Ali lit the Olympic flame in Atlanta, Frazier told a reporter that he would like to throw Ali into the fire. [27] Frazier made millions of dollars in the 1970s, but the article cited mismanagement of real-estate holdings as a partial explanation for his economic woes. Frazier stated repeatedly that he no longer had any bitter feelings towards Ali.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has named the Joe Frazier's Gym in its 25th list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in 2012. [28] [29] Frazier continued to train young fighters, although he needed multiple operations for back injuries sustained in a car accident. He and Ali reportedly attempted a reconciliation in his final years, but in October 2006 Frazier still claimed to have won all three bouts between the two. He declared to a Times reporter, when questioned about his bitterness toward Ali, "I am what I am." Frazier attempted to revive his music interests in late 2009/2010 notably popular for singing 'Mustang Sally' both Frazier and manager Leslie R. Wolff teamed up with Welsh Rock Solo artist Jayce Lewis to release his repertoire in the U.K, later visiting the Welshman in U.K to a host a string of After dinner Speeches and music developments, it would notably be Frazier's last U.K appearance. [30] [31] Death Edit Frazier was diagnosed with liver cancer in late September 2011. Within a few weeks, the cancer had metastasized.

By November 2011, he was under hospice care, where he died on November 7. [32] [33] Upon hearing of Frazier's death, Muhammad Ali said, "The world has lost a great champion. I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration." [34] [35] [36] Frazier's private funeral took place on November 14 at the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Philadelphia and in addition to friends and family was attended by Muhammad Ali, Don King, Larry Holmes, Magic Johnson, Dennis Rodman, among others. He was later buried at the Ivy Hill Cemetery, a short drive from the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church. [37] [38] In popular culture Edit Some of the most memorable moments in the 1976 boxing-themed feature film, Rocky — such as Rocky's carcass-punching scenes and Rocky running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, as part of his training regimen — are taken from Frazier's real-life exploits, for which he received no credit. Though ironically he makes a cameo appearance promoting the fight between Rocky and Apollo. He challenges the latter to a fight.

[39] In March 2007, a Joe Frazier action figure was released as part of a range of toys based on the Rocky film franchise, developed by the American toy manufacturer, Jakks Pacific. [40] [41] In the Wu-Tang Clan's first single "Protect Ya Neck," Inspectah Deck name-drops Joe Frazier in his opening rhymes. On the remix of DJ Khaled's, "I'm So Hood," Lil Wayne raps, "It Go Down Like Frazier And I Aint Talking Kelsey Grammer." This is a reference to Joe Frazier and not the titular character in the television series Frasier. As a result of his physical resemblance to Frazier, West Indian cricketer Sir Vivian Richards was nicknamed "Smokin' Joe" or "Smokey" during his youth when he was an amateur boxer in Antigua. In the Punch-Out!! series, the character Mr. Sandman is similar to Frazier.

Electric bassist Jeff Berlin wrote a musical tribute simply called "Joe Frazier," originally recorded on the Bill Bruford album "Gradually Going Tornado," available on the compilation album "Master Strokes." Professional boxing record Boxlegende Joe Frazier verstorben - Boxing legend Joe Frazier died - YouTube Boxlegende Joe Frazier verstorben - Boxing legend Joe Frazier died Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Nov 29, 2011 Eine große Boxlegende Joe Frazier geboren am 12. Januar 1944 in Beaufort, South Carolina hat seinen letzten Kampf gegen den Leberkrebs verloren. Wie der US-Sender abc in der Nacht unter Berufung auf Fraziers Familie berichtete, starb der 67-jährige frühere Schwergewichtsweltmeister am † 7. November 2011 in seinem Haus in Philadelphia im Kreise der Familie.

Mit 10 Geschwistern wuchs Frazier in einer ländlichen Gegend in South Carolina auf Frazier war 1971 mit dem «Kampf des Jahrhunderts» gegen Muhammad Ali in die Annalen des Boxsports eingegangen. Dabei war es «Smokin' Joe» gelungen, den Herausforderer in der 15. Runde mit einem linken Schwinger auszuheben und Ali seine erste Niederlage als Profi beizubringen. In Philadelphia. begann seine Boxkarriere. Obwohl Frazier das Finale der US-amerikanischen Ausscheidungskämpfe zur Teilnahme an den Olympischen Sommerspielen 1964 gegen Mathis verloren hatte, nahm er an seiner Statt an den Olympischen Spielen 1964 in Tokio teil, da Mathis wegen einer Handverletzung passen musste. Dort gewann der damals 20-Jährige die Goldmedaille gegen den Deutschen Hans Huber, der als erster Kontrahent mit Frazier über die Runden gehen konnte.

Frazier ging allerdings gehandicapt in den Finalkampf, er hatte sich im Halbfinale gegen den Russen Wadim Jemeljanow die linke Schlaghand angebrochen. Entdeckt wurde Frazier von den Trainerlegenden Yancey „Yank" Durham und Willie Reddish. Während mehrjähriger Berufstätigkeit in einem Schlachthof soll Frazier dort, nach eigenen Angaben, häufig auf Rinderhälften eingeschlagen haben. Dies wurde von Sylvester Stallone in seinen Boxer-Film Rocky eingebaut, der von einem Underdog aus Philadelphia handelt, der einen Titelkampf im Schwergewicht erlangt. Joe Frazier hatte einen Gastauftritt in diesem Film. Boxing legend Joe Frazier, a large birth 12 January 1944 in Beaufort, South Carolina has lost his last fight against liver cancer. As the U.S. broadcaster ABC reported on the night, referring to Frazier's family, the 67-year-old former heavyweight champion died on 7th † November 2011 in his home in Philadelphia in the family.

Frazier grew up with 10 siblings in a rural area in South Carolina on Frazier was received in 1971 with the "Fight of the Century" against Muhammad Ali in the annals of boxing. It was succeeded, "Smokin 'Joe," the challenger in the 15th Dig round with a chair and left to teach Ali his first defeat as a professional. In Philadelphia. began his boxing career. Although Frazier had lost the final of the U.S. elimination fights to participate in the Summer Olympic Games in 1964 against Mathis, he participated in his place at the Olympic Games in 1964 in Tokyo, because Mathis had to fit due to a hand injury. There, the then 20-year-old won the gold medal against the Germans, Hans Huber, who could go with Frazier as the first opponent to make ends meet. Frazier, however, was handicapped in the final bout, he had begun in the semifinals against the Russians beat Vadim Yemelyanov the left hand. Frazier was discovered by the legendary trainer Yancey "Yank" Durham and Willie Reddish.

During several years of working in a slaughterhouse Frazier is there, claims to have frequently taken on sides of beef. This was built by Sylvester Stallone in his boxer Rocky film, which is about an underdog from Philadelphia, who earned a title fight at heavyweight. Joe Frazier had a cameo in this film. Category Joe Frazier, former heavyweight champion, dead at 67 PHILADELPHIA -- He beat Muhammad Ali in the Fight of the Century, battled him nearly to the death in the Thrilla in Manila. Then Joe Frazier spent the rest of his life trying to fight his way out of Ali's shadow. That was one fight Frazier never could win. He once was a heavyweight champion, and a great one at that. Ali would say as much after Frazier knocked him down in the 15th round en route to becoming the first man to beat Ali at Madison Square Garden in March 1971. But he bore the burden of being Ali's foil, and he paid the price. Bitter for years about the taunts his former nemesis once threw his way, Frazier only in recent times came to terms with what happened in the past and said he had forgiven Ali for everything he said.

Frazier, who died Monday night after a brief battle with liver cancer at the age of 67, forever will be linked to Ali. But no one in boxing would ever dream of anointing Ali as "The Greatest" unless he, too, was linked to Smokin' Joe. "I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration," Ali said in a statement. "My sympathy goes out to his family and loved ones." They fought three times, twice in the heart of New York City and once in the morning in a steamy arena in the Philippines. They went 41 rounds together, with neither giving an inch and both giving it their all. In their last fight in Manila in 1975, they traded punches with a fervor that seemed unimaginable among heavyweights. Frazier gave almost as good as he got for 14 rounds, then had to be held back by trainer Eddie Futch as he tried to go out for the final round, unable to see. "Closest thing to dying that I know of," Ali said afterward. Ali was as merciless with Frazier out of the ring as he was inside it. He called him a gorilla, and mocked him as an Uncle Tom.

But he respected him as a fighter, especially after Frazier won a decision to defend his heavyweight title against the then-unbeaten Ali, in a fight that was so big Frank Sinatra was shooting pictures at ringside and both fighters earned a then-astonishing $2.5 million. The night at the Garden 40 years ago remained fresh in Frazier's mind as he talked about his life, career and relationship with Ali a few months before he died. "I can't go nowhere where it's not mentioned," he told The Associated Press. "That was the greatest thing that ever happened in my life." Bob Arum, who once promoted Ali, said he was saddened by Frazier's passing. "He was such an inspirational guy. A decent guy. A man of his word," Arum said. "I'm torn up by Joe dying at this relatively young age. I can't say enough about Joe." Frazier's death was announced in a statement by his family, who asked to be able to grieve privately and said they would announce "our father's homecoming celebration" as soon as possible. Manny Pacquiao learned of it shortly after he arrived in Las Vegas for his fight Saturday night with Juan Manuel Marquez.

Like Frazier in his prime, Pacquiao has a powerful left hook that he has used in his remarkable run to stardom. "Boxing lost a great champion, and the sport lost a great ambassador," Pacquiao said. Don King, who promoted the Thrilla in Manila, said in a statement issued Tuesday that Frazier was "the embodiment of what a great heavyweight champion and person should be." "Not only was he a great fighter but also a great man. He lived as he fought with courage and commitment at a time when African-Americans in all spheres of life were engaged in a struggle for emancipation and respect," King said of Frazier. "Smokin' Joe brought honor, dignity and pride for his people, the AMERICAN people, and brought the nation together as only sports can do." Though slowed in his later years and his speech slurred by the toll of punches taken in the ring, Frazier still was active on the autograph circuit in the months before he died. In September he went to Las Vegas, where he signed autographs in the lobby of the MGM Grand hotel-casino shortly before Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s fight against Victor Ortiz.

An old friend, Gene Kilroy, visited with him and watched Frazier work the crowd. "He was so nice to everybody," Kilroy said. "He would say to each of them, 'Joe Frazier, sharp as a razor, what's your name?' " Frazier was small for a heavyweight, weighing just 205 pounds when he won the title by stopping Jimmy Ellis in the fifth round of their 1970 fight at Madison Square Garden. But he fought every minute of every round going forward behind a vicious left hook, and there were few fighters who could withstand his constant pressure. Joe Frazier's decision victory over Muhammad Ali in 1971 was the first in a trio of legendary fights. AP Photo His reign as heavyweight champion lasted only four fights -- including the win over Ali -- before he ran into an even more fearsome slugger than himself. George Foreman responded to Frazier's constant attack by dropping him three times in the first round (the first giving birth to Howard Cosell's iconic "Down goes Frazier!" call) and three more in the second before their 1973 fight in Jamaica was waved to a close and the world had a new heavyweight champion. "Good night Joe Frazier.

I love you dear friend. George Foreman" read Foreman's Twitter page. "He would not back up from King Kong," Foreman said later Tuesday. "I know, I knocked Joe down six times. When our fight was over, Joe was on his feet looking for me." Two fights later, Frazier met Ali in a rematch of their first fight, only this time the outcome was different. Ali won a 12-round decision, and later that year stopped Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle in Zaire. There had to be a third fight, though, and what a fight it was. With Ali's heavyweight title at stake, the two met in Manila in a bout that long will be seared in boxing history. Frazier went after Ali round after round, landing his left hook with regularity as he made Ali backpedal around the ring. But Ali responded with left jabs and right hands that found their mark again and again. Even the intense heat inside the arena couldn't stop the two as they fought every minute of every round, with neither willing to concede the other one second of the round. "They told me Joe Frazier was through," Ali told Frazier at one point during the fight.

"They lied," Frazier said, before hitting Ali with a left hook. Finally, though, Frazier simply couldn't see and Futch would not let him go out for the 15th round. Ali won the fight while on his stool, exhausted and contemplating himself whether to go on. It was one of the greatest fights ever, but it took a toll. Frazier would fight only two more times, getting knocked out in a rematch with Foreman eight months later before coming back in 1981 for an ill-advised fight with Jumbo Cummings. "They should have both retired after the Manila fight," former AP boxing writer Ed Schuyler Jr. said. "They left every bit of talent they had in the ring that day." "The courage Smokin' Joe showed in The Thrilla in Manila -- answering every Ali onslaught with an equally withering response -- will remain in the hearts and minds of boxing fans around the globe forever," King said of the third fight in the trilogy. "One cannot underestimate the contribution Smokin' Joe and Ali made to progress and change by creating the space, through their talent, for black men to be seen, visible and relevant. The Thrilla in Manila helped make America better," King said.

Born in Beaufort, S.C., on Jan. 12, 1944, Frazier took up boxing early after watching weekly fights on the black-and-white television on his family's small farm. He was a top amateur for several years, and became the only American fighter to win a gold medal in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo despite fighting in the final bout with an injured left thumb. "Joe Frazier should be remembered as one of the greatest fighters of all time and a real man," Arum told the AP in a telephone interview Monday night. "He's a guy that stood up for himself. He didn't compromise and always gave 100 percent in the ring. There was never a fight in the ring where Joe didn't give 100 percent." After turning pro in 1965, Frazier quickly became known for his punching power, stopping his first 11 opponents. Within three years he was fighting world-class opposition and, in 1970, beat Ellis to win the heavyweight title that he would hold for more than two years.

A woman who answered Ellis' phone in Kentucky said the former champion suffers from Alzheimer's disease, but she wanted to pass along the family's condolences. In Frazier's adopted hometown of Philadelphia, a fellow Philly fighter, longtime middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins, said Frazier was so big in the city that he should have his own shadow, like the fictional Rocky character. "I saw him at one of my car washes a few weeks ago. He was in a car, just hollering at us, 'They're trying to get me!' That was his, hi," Hopkins said. "I'm glad I got to see him in the last couple of months. At the end of the day, I respect the man. I believe at the end of his life, he was fighting to get that respect." HBO broadcaster Larry Merchant, who became close with Frazier after covering him as a reporter in Philadelphia, was crushed by the news. "This is a body blow to me because I knew him personally as well as professionally," Merchant told ESPN.com's Dan Rafael. "I thought he was as honest and as real a fighter as there ever was.

He followed in a tradition of (Jack) Dempsey and (Rocky) Marciano as the 'Warrior King.' " It was his fights with Ali that would define Frazier. Though Ali was gracious in defeat in the first fight, he was as vicious with his words as he was with his punches in promoting all three fights -- and he never missed a chance to get a jab in at Frazier. Frazier, who in his later years would have financial trouble and end up running a gym in Philadelphia, took the jabs personally. He felt Ali made fun of him by calling him names and said things that were not true just to get under his skin. Those feelings were only magnified as Ali went from being an icon in the ring to one of the most beloved people in the world. After a trembling Ali lit the Olympic torch in 1996 in Atlanta, Frazier was asked by a reporter what he thought about it. "They should have thrown him in," Frazier responded. He mellowed, though, in recent years, preferring to remember the good from his fights with Ali rather than the bad.

Just before the 40th anniversary of his win over Ali earlier this year -- a day Frazier celebrated with parties in New York -- he said he no longer felt any bitterness toward Ali, who suffers from Parkinson's disease and is mostly mute. "I forgive him," Frazier. "He's in a bad way." Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Question: Which US boxer died on 7th November 2011?
Answer: Joe Frazier